Kaga Traditional Craft

Curated by Harumi Osawa

• Location: Exhibit Hall

• Daily 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM (Hours subject to change during special events)

• Early Closures: https://www.niwa.org/early-garden-closures)

• JFGM General Admission Required

The Kaga Traditional Craft Exhibition celebrates the rich sense of beauty, exceptional techniques, and enduring spirit rooted in the prosperous Kaga domain. The Kaga Clan held most of what is now Ishikawa and Toyama Prefectures during the Edo period. 

Generations of feudal lords from the Maeda Family who ruled the Kaga domain passionately supported a wide range of cultural activities. Notably, during the reigns of the third lord, Toshitsune, to the fifth lord, Tsunanori (1605-1724), significant efforts were made to promote culture. This period saw the flourishing of various crafts, contributing to the renowned *Kaga Hyakuman-goku culture.

Even today, traditional culture is deeply embedded in the lives of local residents. In Ishikawa Prefecture, which has preserved many historical cultural assets, 36 types of traditional arts and crafts continue to thrive as local industries. Among these are nationally designated traditional crafts such as Wajima lacquerware, Yamanaka lacquerware, Kutani ceramics, Kaga yuzen silk dyeing, and Kanazawa metal leaf. Ishikawa Prefecture is globally recognized as one of the largest production centers for traditional arts and crafts, showcasing its exceptional traditions and cultural heritage.

* Kaga Hyakuman-goku: Refers to the production of one million koku of rice, with one koku being a unit that measures the weight of rice. The Kaga domain produced 150 million kilograms of rice annually.